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bloodyxfangs – no, but I hope this takes you by surprise!
And finally, this is the last chapter besides the epilogue!
"Paid!" laughedthe Shadow Man, vanishing into thin air. Jenny's bonds vanished with him, and she ran to the spot of grass where Julian was gasping in pain.
Flashbacks of the horrible time – their last days in Joyland Park – threatened to pull her under.
"Julian! Julian…"
He looked up at her, eyes glazed. "It's all right. It's not… the same. I…"
She reached across his chest, realizing that it was shaking. "What's happening?"
He grimaced. "I only…gave up… my power. I'll live."
She blinked. "Are you okay? Are you going to be okay? What do you mean, you gave up your power?"
A nod, but speaking seemed to be beyond him. He was shaking harder now, and…glowing?
No, not glowing exactly. More like that there was light, falling away – not shadows. Not darkness. Light. Before her eyes, the golden light seemed to envelop him, stronger and stronger – until it separated. He fell to the ground, gasping in a breath that anchored him to the world.
"What the hell is going on?" Jenny ran to him, supporting him in her arms. "Julian!"
As she held him, the last of the fading light brushed over her arms. It tingled, giving a feeling of pure, strong power that slipped up her arms and settled in her heart. She stiffened in amazement, trying not to drop him. No time to wonder about it now. She needed an explanation.
He smiled a weary smile, the last traces of pain gone. "I'm really all right. What happened – well, the price for their deaths was my power or your body. I gave them my power."
She blinked. "So…you mean…"
A laugh that was still melodious, still enchanting, but somehow no longer unearthly escaped his lips. "I'm not a Shadow Man, not anymore. I'm mortal."
She stared. And stared again. For a minute, it was entirely silent. Then she grabbed him in a tight embrace and kissed him passionately.
"You…gave up… your self… so I wouldn't get hurt? You're… mortal?" Jenny wrapped her arms tighter around him. "I…"
The sheer selflessness of the act took her breath away. She had no idea that that could happen… and once it had, she was so happy that she couldn't express it enough.
She pulled him to his feet and kissed him again, long and hard. The future – now that they had one – was looming up, full of possibilities. She could know Julian. Fall in love with him all over again.
This was one time that she knew she would always remember.
Remember.